This year, Kigali Farms partnered with Africa Innovation Prize (AIP) to engage University of Rwanda Huye Campus students in an entrepreneurship workshop designed to put the students in the shoes of an entrepreneur. Sam Niyomugabo, Director of Education and Outreach, and Ashlee Tuttleman, Development Director, challenged 90 entrepreneurship, agriculture, pharmacy and engineering students to solve real business problems that Kigali Farms faces.

 

 

After Sam shared an overview of the mushroom industry and Ashlee brought the students up to speed on Kigali Farms’ operations and product line, students broke out into 6 work groups to solve two real business problems. Ultimately, the students impressed AIP and Kigali Farms staff with their ingenuity and keen awareness of integral factors, from the necessity of market research and understanding your market, to the importance of customer service and follow-up. Students also shared a plethora of inventive marketing schemes that any business could take advantage of.

 

 

Kigali Farms appreciates the opportunity to work with these young minds. Special thanks to AIP and Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center for enabling our participation in GEW and our ability to connect with some of the brightest of Rwanda’s university youth.